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REPORT 



HUACALS, OR ANCIEiNT GRAYETARDS 

OF OHIEIQUI. 



A PAPEE BEAD BEFOEE THE AMFI'.iCAlSr ETHNOLOGICAL SttOIETT, BY 
J. KING MEEElfl M.D. 



[Dr. Merritt Aras director of a gold-mine in Veraguas, and spent several weeks, in the 
summer of 1859, in examining and excavating the newly discovered graves — Huacaa or 
Guacas— in the adjoining province of Chiriqui, about fifty miles north of Panama.] 

In the autumn of 1858 two Spanish creole- farmers of Chiriqui, while 
engaged in gathering a crop of corn, accidentally discovered a golden 
image, which had been exposed by the uprooting of a plant. They cau- 
tiously and secretly made farther search by sinking a pit at this point, 
and were successful in obtaining more. With this encouragement they 
determined to explore the Huacal, the existence of which had been well 
known for years. They proceeded in this work, not continuously, 
but as circumstances would permit, until the 1st of May, 1859, when 
their concealed operations became known to the inhabitants of the 
vicinity. The consequence was, that by the middle of May more than a 
thousand persons were engaged in ransacking the graves of this Huacal, 
which is located in the district of Boqueron and parish of Bugaba, about 
twenty-five miles from David, and fifteen miles only from the sea, in a 
direct line. The names of the fortunate discoverers are Ignacio Guerra 
and Yictorio Pitti, who succeeded in collecting together, as admitted to 
I'me by themselves, about 130 pounds weight of golden figures, a large 
of which, however, are more or less alloyed with copper. 
Icdotes were related to me connected with the earlier explora- 
tions of this Huacal. One was, that a lad, the son of Ignacio Guerra, 
seemed to possess the "divining power." It is said he always selected 
the grave to be opened, and was almost uniformly successful in the 
selection of a "gold-bearing" one; while perhaps the next adjoining, 
although carefully explored by other parties, would yield only pottery. 
This boy, it is stated, would proceed in advance of his father, "pro- 




\\-^^' 



4: DE. MEEEITT S PAPEE ON 

specting;" and, having chosen the grave, would saj, with perfect non- 
chalance, "Padre mio! aqui esta una Huaca rica: ella tiene muchas 
figuras del oro." [Father, here is a rich grave ; it has many golden 
images.] The other anecdote related to the " confidence" operations of 
the priest of the parish. lie pretended to possess the " divining rod," a 
relic of some gold-seeker of olden time. With this, it is said, he Avould 
proceed to the Huacal, followed by a thi'ong of eager grave-diggers, and 
would designate to each the golden sepulchres for the unselfish consid- 
eration of one third of the yield. His rod and modus operandi were 
more simple than ingenious. The rod was an antique steel bar. This 
was suspended near its middle by a small cord, which was grasped in 
his outstretched hand. Upon arriving at a suspected locality, he would 
give the bar a rapid twirl, and begin to mutter an " Ave" or a " Beni- 
dicite" in a hurried manner. When the bar ceased to gyrate, the longer 
end, depressed by its greater weight, indicated the desired spot. This 
profitable farce was practiced by the priest for a few days, until the 
arrival of some intelligent and influential persons from David, who 
exposed the swindle. 

This Huacal of Bugaba had been quite thoroughly explored by the 
first of August, and people were then directing their attention to others 
in the vicinity; but the heavy rains, which daily occurred, prevented 
any considerable progress in many, and in some entirely stopped the 
operations. Consequently the Huacal of Bugaba had yielded nearly all 
the golden images up to this date, which I have estimated could not 
have been worth more than $50,000, This calculation is based upon 
their metallic value merely, and not upon their fancied valuation as 
curiosities. 

The Huacal of Bugaba embraced an area of twelve acres, but was 
divided into two sections — ^by a slight depression extending in an east- 
and-west direction — in which not a single grave has been encountered. 
This depression of the surface varied in width from eighteen to ten 
yards, toward the east. The two sections were respectively five and 
seven acres, and were located on slightly elevated eminences, about four 
hundred yards from a small river, the course of which is northeast by 
east at this point. The rise from the river banks to the Huacal is very 
gradual, except at the noi'thern boundary, which is somewhat abrupt, 
and around which the river turns towai'd the east. The general 
direction of the Huacal is north and south ; and the greater portion of 
the graves were found on the western and southenj slopes. There did 
not appear a general regularity in the position of the Huacas, or graves, 
but frequently there would occur several side by side. The distance 
between the grave-pits varied from nine to fifteen inches at the more 



5-3^20M^^;/,,,^ 



1 



THE GEAVETAEDS OF CHIEIQUI. 5 

crowded portions of the Huacal. The universal direction of the quad- 
rangular Huacas is north and south by the polar star. 

There are two forms of Huacas or graves — the oval and quadrangu- 
lar ; and their mode of construction is an interesting matter for consid- 
eration. I, with a small party of peons, examined carefully and system- 
atically one of the former and several of the latter description ; and 
besides, saw a large number of both varieties opened by parties in the 
vicinity. The material uniformly employed in the construction of the 
sepulcher proper was flat and rounded river stone. The oval grave-pits 
were from four and a half to six feet deep, and from three to four feet in 
their largest diameters. A wall of the rounded river stone, two and a 
half to three feet high, lined the grave-pit at the bottom, after the man- 
ner of a modern well. From the top of this wall to the surface the 
entire area of the grave-pit was closely packed with rounded river stone. 
Within the limits of the wall, which seemed to be the tomb proper, were 
found principally the golden figures, and the vessels of pottery, etc. The 
greater portion of the oval or circular Huacas were located in the 
. northern and western sections of the burial-ground ; and, as a general 
rule, yielded the most figures of gold and the finest specimens of pottery. 
The relics in these were found usually at the eastern and northern sides ; 
and the gold figures sometimes were located, -it is said, in the crevices 
of the wall — but in no instance in the earthen jars associated with them. 
The circular graves, being confined to the slopes of the Huacal, were 
more or less covered by the wash from the elevated sections of the 
Huacal, so that the top stones of the package were in many cases nearly 
a foot beneath the surface. No vestige of the human body was discov- 
ered in the oval Huacas ; but a black loam occupied the spaces between 
the relics and the stone package. Occasionally earthen vessels were 
found in the stone package near the surface. The quadrangular Huacas 
were constructed in two modes. In one case the grave-pit was lined by 
walls of rounded river stone about one third the distance to the surface ; 
and from the top of these walls the entire area of the grave-pit was 
closely packed with river stone, as yi the oval grave. Within the limits 
of these walls, and in close proximity to the bottom of the grave-pit, 
were found most of the relics contained in them. These Huacas were 
larger and yielded more gold images and finer pottery than the other 
variety of the quadrangular grave, and were in juxtaposition with the 
oval graves, occurring interspersed with them in the northern and west- 
ern sections of the Huacal, but abounding principally in the southern 
portion of the ground. Some of these Huacas were nearly six feet deep, 
especially those situated in the depressed sections of the Huacal, and the 
area of the grave-pit measured frequently seven by four and a half feet. 



6. DE. meekitt's papee on 

In these the relics were Tisually found near the hottom, at the northern 
and southern extremities, and more or less on the eastern side. The 
gold figures most frequently were located about one fourth of the dis- 
tance from the head to the foot of the grave-pit, and in the medial line. 
In these Huacas, also, earthen vessels were encountered in the stone 
package near the surface, and generally at either extremity. 

The other variety of the quadrangular Huaca, although poor in relics, 
was more artistically and carefully constructed, and in a better state of 
preservation ; for in many of them everything was encountered " in 
situ." In these a vault existed, which was formed of flat river stone, 
and was of the requisite size to contain a human body in the supine 
position, so far as the length and brealdth are considered, but in the 
height giving ample space for the introduction of the earthen relics. 
These Huacas were located mostly on the more elevated portion of the 
Huacal, and in the southern and eastern sections. A grave-pit had been 
sunk about three feet deep and six and a half by four feet in area ; and 
then a lesser pit, by eight to ten inches on all sides, was farther sunk to 
the additional depth of about two feet. This smaller pit was lined by 
flat stones placed edgewise, which were held in position by other flat 
stones resting flatwise upon the upper edges of these and the surface of 
the recess in the sides of the grave-pit. The floor of the vault was not 
paved, but presented a hard, pebbly clay surface, with two depressions 
frequently, one at either extremity, and corresp(3nding with tlie probable 
positions of the occiput and the heels of the body. The cover to the 
vault was composed of flat stones, quite closely adjusted, and sufficiently 
overlapping the sides to be firm, and not liable to cave in from the 
variations of position of the sides, consequent upon subsequent settlings 
of the earth and stone from natural causes. From the cover of the 
vault to the surface, the entire area of the grave-pit was closely packed 
with river stone, somewhat larger than ordinary paving-stone. • In these 
Huacas the relics were also found mostly in the vault, at the head and 
foot, and on the east side. So far as my experience goes, earthen-ware 
only was found in these, although I was told that a few had contained 
the smaller gold figures. Specimens of pottery were encountered also in 
these, at either extremity of the stone package, immediately above the 
cover of the vault. The location of these vaulted Huacas, being the 
more elevated section of the burial-ground, and the vaults also preserv- 
ing their outlines, the stone package of most of them was slightly raised 
above the general surface. A black loamy earth occupied all the graves 
proper, or the original position of the body in it. 

It would seem, from the facts I have stated, that the gold-bearing 
graves were those which were ruder in their construction, and which 



THE GEAVEYAKDS OF CHIRIQiri. " 7 

occupied, to some degree, a particular section of the Huacal, altliougli 
the limits of this were not well defined. The golden ornaments were 
not found in many successive Huacas, even at the richest points of the 
Huacal. Pottery, however, was encountered more or less in every 
Huaca. It is reported that in other Huacals, in the vicinity of Bugaha, 
traces of human hair have been discovered; hut in those of Bugaha, 
which I explored carefully, no such evidence of the body was encoun.- 
tered. I have, however, the enamel of a molar -tooth, taken from a 
grave in a Huacal, near that of Bugaha. 

Most of the gold figures taken from the Huacas of Chiriqui were prob- 
ably ornaments, worn by the person buried, and were suspend-ed about 
the neck. There are, apparently, some exceptions to this. Circular 
thin plates of fine gold were found, one surface of which uniformly 
presented a worn appearance. They are all perforated by two holes, 
about an inch and a half from each other and the margin. These holes 
resemble the ragged puncture which would be produced by a modern 
nail, driven from the worn side ; and there is no evidence of friction on 
the edges of these apertures. Another gold figure resembles the iron 
thimble used by riggers at the end of a rope, to which is attached a 
ring or hook. In some Huacas have been found a great number of thin, 
laminar pieces of fine gold, of various shapes, such as square, oblong, 
triangular, and rhombic, which weighed from 5 to 30 grains, Troy. 

The golden ornaments are, for the most part, representations of the 
natural objects peculiar to that region. Many of them, however, are 
grotesque and fantastical imitations and combinations of such objects, 
and a few seem to be efforts of fancy or superstition. 

Nearly all the golden figures are alloyed with copper, which was the 
only metal used for such a purpose in this section, apparently. Some 
of the better executed figures are scarcely more than eight or ten carats 
fine. This alloy of the figures is artificial. The figures have been 
"cast" generally, and some have been finished to their existing shapes 
by subsequent beating. The largest golden figure, of high degree of 
purity, found in the Huacal of Bugaba, weighed between eleven and 
twelve ounces. The specimens of pottery found associated with the 
goJd figures are generally larger and of a finer quality than in the other 
Huacas. 

To the antiquarian these possess a great interest, as they afford some 
idea of the domestic habits and the degree of civilization attained by 
that ancient people, of whose history we as yet know nothing. The 
specimens which I have seen, and a few that I have brought from 
Chiriqui, exhibit a high degree of advancement in the most difiicult art 
of pottery — foi-ms as symmetrical and graceful as any- of classic or mod- 



8 DE. MEKRITT S PAPER. 

ern dates. The glazing and painting of some are in a wonderful state 
of preservation, the colors being bright and distinct ; and many are 
entirely unaffected, in their composition, by the lapse of time. 

There is a domestic utensil frequently occurring in the Huacas, worthy 
of particular notice. It is the so-called corn-grinder, which seems to be 
carved from stone. It most frequently bears a resemblance to a tiger, 
with its body expanded to an oval tablet form, and its tail curved so as 
to be connected with one of the posterior legs, which serves as a handle. 
Another form, quite rare, is a circular tablet, supported by figures of 
monkeys, arranged regularly in a circle, and standing upon a base ring, 
the entire piece carved from a block of stone. There was a peculiar 
fancy among* that people to introduce pellets of the same material into 
cavities, where such might occur jjroperly in the molding of the various 
articles of pottery, or of the gold figures. 

The musical instruments made of clay are very curious, and evince 
considerable cultivation in the musical art. They are of varied forms, 
but principally the figures of birds and animals. 

Arrow-heads and stone instruments, resembling hatchets, were found 
associated in the same Huaca. 

The existence of Huacals throughout the southern portion of the 
Isthmus and Central America has been long known to the inhabitants ; 
but, strange to say, I have not heard of any such burial-grounds on the 
northern side of the Isthmus, from the lagoons of Ohiriqui to the vaUey 
of the Ohagres — and where they would have been discovered by the 
gold-seeker, who has been ransacking this section for more than 300 
years. The locale of the Huacal appears to be the plain, valley, and 
upland of the Pacific side of the Isthmus. 

I have received intelligence that on an elevated plateau, called Bo- 
quete, have been encountered Huacals in the forest, marked by large 
pillars of stone, three feet above the surface, and some ten inches in 
diameter. The pottery in these was very large and ponderous, and waa 
so friable that no specimens of it could be taken out or carried without 
crumbling to small fragments. 



BULLETIN" 



AMERICAJf ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 

April 17TH, i860. 



On Tuesday evening, the April meeting was held at the residence of 
the President, Hon. George Folsom, who occupied the chair. 

Chiriqiti Relics. — A letter was received from Mr. Totten, chief engi- 
neer of the Panama Eailroad Company at Aspinwall, April 2d, accepting 
his appointment as a corresponding member, and promising to send more 
curiosities from the Ohiriqui graveyards, particularly specimens of the 
stone posts or columns which have recently been found in some of them, 
porting the roofs. He writes : 

" I was in error in stating that the images I sent you were the only 
stone images discovered in Chiriqui. I was so informed ; but I have re- 
cently seen small ones from, that locality, and also numerous stone arti- 
cles, apparently household utensils, with figures of animals cut upon them, 
showing that the art of working stone was known to the aborigines of 
that country." 

Danish Antiquities. — Lieut. -Col. W. D. Eaasloff, Charge d'' Affaires 
for Denmark, took his seat as a member, and presented a collection of 
ancient stone instruments, received from Professor Thompson, Director 
of the Eoyal Museums of Copenhagen. They were taken from ancient 
mounds, and were chiefly made of flint. The most highly finished is a 
spear-head, or perhaps a poniard, 9 or 10 inches long. 

Mr. E. also presented a collection of archgeological publications from 
Denmark, and specimens of the beautiful new coins issued by his Gov- 
ernment for circulation in their "W. Indies. They are of 1 cent, 5, 10, 
and 20 cents, on the American decimal system. 

On motion of Dr. Wynne, seconded by Mr. Loosey (Austrian Consul- 
General), the thanks of the Society were presented to Mr. Eaasloff and 
Prof. Thompson. 

The President spoke in terms of admiration of the extent,, value, and 
beauty of the Danish museums, expressed regret that they should be so 
far before us, in even American antiquities, for which they deserve high 



10 BTJLLETi:!f OF THE 

praise. "We should be encouraged by their example, and we have a vast 
field for exploration. 

The President presented the two publications of the " Shanghai Liter- 
ary and Scientific Society," published at Shanghai. 

Arab Maktusceipt. — A letter was read from Louis Tappan, Esq., 
accompanying an Arabic manuscript, of several pages, from Africa, pur- 
porting to contain a history of the world, extracted from the Koran. 
Mr. Gotheal reported that it was so, and evidently recently written by 
some educated negro of Africa. It is on ruled, light blue paper, appar- 
ently American. 

The Isthmus. — Dr. Davis presented a letter from Mr. Hawes, of 
Panama, with a map containing interesting answers to questions con- 
cerning the Chiriqui graves. A law was passed by the Spanish, in 1542. 
claiming all gold found in guacas (meaning graves), which abound in 
Central America, New Granada, and Peru. He knows of no sculptured 
rocks. Mounds are numerous on the Isthmus, and some large ; but none 
have ever been opened, except one, which has recently been dug into, 
and some pottery found. 

A report on Gen. Herran's Chiriqui earthen relics, from the Committee 
on Antiquities, described the twenty-five articles of which it consists : 
nine tripods, ten vases, two small musical instruments, etc. The vessels, 
like others, in the collections of Drs.' Davis and Merritt, are neatly and 
sometimes very gracefully formed of clay, of different degrees of fineness, 
few of them with any appearance of having been fused, some glazed with 
an unknown substance, and painted, probably with metallic oxyds, 
which it is desirable to have analyzed. Most of them are soon soaked 
through by water ; but such as are glazed are water-tight. The uses of 
most of them it is difficult to conjecture. Several bear resemblance to Eo- 
man, Grecian, and Etruscan jars, figured by Monfaucon and others. One 
is nearly like a diota, or Grecian two-eared one, among his specimens. 

Dr. Davis remarked on the historical value of ancient pottery, and 
said that the specimens from Chiriqui appear to have been molded upon 
an imitation of vegetables, fruits, shells, or other common objects of the 
country, and ornamented with imitations of native animals. In no in- 
stance has he found any attempt to imitate anything foreign in pottery, 
copper, or gold. The jars are aU formed by hand, with no mark of the 
potter's wheel. He thinks the external and internal layers of clay, when 
light colored, with a black stratum between them, must have been pen- 
etrated and changed by the coloring matter applied, with or without the 
size or varnish spread over them. 

Dr. Merritt mentioned that the natives of the Isthmus now make their 
.rn.de earthen utensils of a peculiar black earth, which gives them the 



ASaSKICAlSr ETHNOLOGICAI. SOCIETY. • 11 

appearance of iron. Some of the ancient Ohiriqui jars appear to consist, 
in part at least, of the same. The coloring matter of that clay is proba- 
bly per-oxyd of iron. 

Musical Insteuments. — Dr. Merritt read the report of the Committee 
on the Ohiriqui Musical Instruments then exhibited. They are (all but 
one) whistles or flageolets, roundish, or in the forms of birds or beasts, 
from 1| to 4-2- inches diameter, with an. air-chamber, and from 1 to 4 
finger-holes! The pitch and scales of these instruments were noted in 
the report, and several peculiarities mentioned, distinguishing them as of 
a different species from all others known in ancient and modern times. 
The most perfect has three finger-holes to produce the notes ; A. G. F. 
E. downward. A fourth finger-hole gives the semitones of these. By 
a particular process, two three lower notes are obtained. A very dimin- 
utive instrument, with two finger-holes, has a loose ball of baked clay in 
its air-chamber, which, when moved, varies the notes. 

DiFFEEENT MoDEs OP BuEiAL BY Ancient Eomans. — The President 
requested Dr. Gajani to repeat what he had mentioned to him on this 
subject ; and he remarked that, after much investigation, he was con- 
vinced that some high Eoman families adhered to the modes of interment 
practiced by their ancestors; those of native or Etruscan origin interring 
the body, and those of Latin or Trojan descent (as they called it), burn- 
ing it. The two races made their tombs and catacombs on opposite sides 
of the Tiber. The tomb of the Scipios was originally on the Vatican 
Hill, but removed across the river, where it has been discovered in 
modern times. Dr. G. believes that none of the Etruscan vases ever 
contained human, remains. They are not large enough, and nothing has 
ever been found in any of them. They were probably mere ornaments, 
This view is opposed to the long received opinion that all the Eomans, 
for a time, interred their dead, and afterward universally adopted the 
custom of burning them. The Julian family and that of the Scipios ap- 
pear to have been of different races. Campana, who first entered the 
tomb of the Scipios, afiirmed that he saw the form of a man's body on a 
bier, which soon crumbled and disappeared under the effect of the air. 
The bier, being of iron, remained. Six pounds weight of gold was found. 

Judge Daly remarked, that he had seen marks of fire on some of the 
remains in Etruscan tombs. Dr. G. replied, that these might have been 
the contents of later tombs in the same place. 

The Society were informed that the Legislature of the State of the 
Isthmus have a bill before them for regulating the exploration of graves 
in Ohiriqui, etc. An amendment was proposed by Governor Obaldia, 
requiring licenses from the Government for short terms, and securing 
proprietors of land from loss and damage. 



/ 



BXJLLETIlSr 



AMERICAN ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 

May 8th, i860. 



This Society held their May meeting on the- 8th, at the residence 
of the Treasurer, Alex. J. Cotheal, Esq., Hon. Geoege Folsom, the 
President, in the chair. 

Letters. — The Corresponding Secretary, E. Gr. Squier, Esq., read a 
letter from Norton Shaw, Esq. Letters were also read from Judge 
Charles P. Avery, of Flint, Michigan, consenting to prepare a paper ou 
the antiquities of that State, and sending a report of the Michigan 
Historical Society. From Lieutenant-Colonel EaaslofF (the Danish min- 
ister), accompanying an old palm-leaf book from Tranquebar, a donation 
from Councillor Thomsen, Director of the Danish Museums. From 
Alexander S. Taylor, Esq., Monterey, California, to Mr. Cotheal, mention- 
ing that he has obtained a grammar of the Nutsun language, and a large 
vocabulary of that California Indian tribe ; also catechisms in languages 
spoken at the missions of Soledad and San Antonio. The first he sent 
to the Smithsonian Institute in 1856. The California Farmer com- 
menced the publication of his series of articles on " Indianology" in 
February last. 

Donations were received from Charles F. Loosey, Esq. (Austrian 
Consul-General), of the seven large volumes of the Imperial Royal 
Geographical Society (from 1857 to '59), and three of the Imperial Royal 
Geological Institution (from 1858 to '59), Dr. Weitenweber's pamphlets 
on Arabian Coffee, on the Life and "Works of Dr. Mold, and on M. Fici- 
nius's JDe Vita Studiosorum. 

From Mr, Figaniere (Portuguese minister), two numbers of the Bulle- 
tins and Annals of the Portuguese Ultramarine Council. From Rev. J. 
L. Wilson, his pamphlet on the Slave Trade, and The Israelite Indeed 
(monthly), froni the editors. 

The Palm-Leaf Book, sent by Councillor Thomsen, contains about 
200 thin strips, 1 inch wide and 16^ long, laid upon each other, and fas- 
tened by two rods passing through them and also through two pieces of 



AJ'IEEICAN ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 13 

split canes. They are neatly written on both sides in very small Tamil 
characters. A vote of thanks was passed to the donor. 

Books Presented at the Apeil Meeting.— Mr. Eaasloff presented 
the following : 

1. Memoirs of the Eoyal Society of Northern Antiquaries for 1843 and 
'44 ; a paper on the Construction of Halls of the Giants, in Denmark and 
elsewhere, by the President of the above-mentioned Society, viz. : His 
Majesty Frederic VII., King of Denmark, 1857. Lord Ellesmere's Guide 
to Northern Archgeology, for the use of English readers. London, 1848. 
Also several bulletins. 

[Notices of these works, and also of the following, have been prepared 
for some future meeting of the Ethnological Society.] 

The Journal of the Northern Branch of the Eoyal Asiatic Society, 
printed at Shanghai in 1859, and presented to this Society in April, by 
Mr. Folsom, contains very interesting articles : 

1. On Formosa, by Mr. Swinhoe, British Consul at Amoy. 

2. On the first course of Physical Lectures ever delivered in Japan by 
a foreigner. By Dr. Meerdervoort. 

3. On Japanese Manners, Language, etc. By S. "W. "Williams, LL.D., 
Secretary of the American Legation, and a member of the Ethnological 
Society. 

4. Musical Notation of the Chinese. By the Eev. Mr. Syle. The 
Chinese express notes by nine characters, written, like their ordinary 
words, in perpendicular columns downward. In alto is expressed by a 
slight dash at the end of the character. 

Formosa. — Mr. Swinhoe, British Consul at Amoy, mentions that 
many Chinese, who reside on the coasts of Formosa, are remai-kably 
hospitable and kind ; while a very numerous race of cruel savages, 
inhabiting the mountains, are jealous and bloodthirsty. These often 
wear only a strip of cloth, but carry swords and fine matchlocks. There 
are some good roads, especially those leading to mines of coal and sul- 
phur, which are worked by Chinese. Several villages were seen of 
"tamed savages," who are very peaceable and friendly. These people 
call a man Larrat^ woman Tarroogan^ son Wannak^ daughter Ree-ah, 
water Lalom, head Ooroo^ etc. 

" These domesticated savages," says Mr. S., " are exceedingly civil and 
good-natured — far more so even than the Chinese, and showed us about 
their tree-ensconced residences. Their houses are built oif the ground, 
on posts, and have boarded floors. The women are far better off than 
the wild, savage females, being neatly dressed, with ornamented head- 
dresses. There is a foreign trade with the wild people, who exchange 
rice for salt." 



14 BULLETIN OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 

CuEiosiTiES FEOM MioEONESiA. — ^Mr. Gulick, of the Union Seminary; 
presented, in the name of his brother, Dr. Gulick, of the Micronesian 
Mission, a heavy adze, neatly made of some very large sea-shell, with a 
wooden handle, for digging out canoes ; and specimens of woven articles 
of dress, and ornaments of palm-leaf fiber. He gave very interesting 
particulars of the modes of manufacture in different groups of islands, 
contrasting the varieties of work and style, and showing the difference 
between these and the tapa cloths of Polynesia. A specimen of coarse 
tapa from Micronesia was strengthened by numerous long threads sewed 
through it. Mr. Gulick was requested to communicate in writing the 
new and interesting facts which he mentioned. 

MiOEOJfEsiAN Languages. — Eeference was made to the recent publi- 
cations by Dr. Gulick of " Notes on the Grammar of the Ponape Dialect 
of Micronesia," as one of those gratifying late examples of able, labori- 
ous, discriminating, analytical investigation of unwritten languages 
which do so much honor to certain scholars and missionaries, and open 
to the world surprising peculiarities, interesting in themselves, and in 
comparison with the most cultivated tongues of modern and ancient 
times. The Honolulu Friend^ in exhibiting some of the delicate pecu- 
liarities in the speech of natives of Micronesian groups, declares that 
they differ among themselves so much that they are unintelligible to 
each other, and perhaps should be regarded as speaking, not dialects, but 
distinct languages. 

NuMEEous Tumuli is Cuba fiest Eepoeted by Me. Squiee. — ^Mr. 
Squier, who has recently returned from Cuba, read a notice of tumuli 
observed by him near the railroad from Havana to Oardenas, some- 
times more than one hundred being in sight at once, amounting in all to 
tliousands. They are of moderate size, and apparently sepulchral. He 
has taken steps to j^rocure particular information regarding them, as 
they have never been noticed by any writer. 






Lb N '10 



